Editors choice in this issue

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Objective: To present the evidence for the efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation in a warm climate of patients with a wide variety of rheumatic diseases.
Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken, searching in PubMed, Cinahl, Pedro, SweMed and Embase from 1970 to 2010, and using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system) criteria. ...

Objectives: Many polio survivors have symptoms that are known risk factors for falls in elderly people. This study aims to determine the: (i) frequency; (ii) consequences; (iii) circumstances; and (iv) factors associated with falls in polio survivors.
Methods: A survey was conducted among 376 polio survivors. Participants completed a falls history questionnaire and additional information was obta ...

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hand and wrist symptoms and impairments, and the resulting activity limitations in relation to disease duration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Design and patients: A cross-sectional study included 200 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 4 categories of disease duration: 2–4, 4–6, 6–8 and ≥ 8 years. Patients were asked about ...

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and the course of the body mass index (BMI) in persons with spinal cord injury during and after inpatient rehabilitation.
Design: Multi-centre longitudinal study.
Subjects: A total of 184 persons with spinal cord injury.
Methods: BMI was determined at the start of active rehabilitation, 3 months later, at discharge, and 1, 2 and 5 ...

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Northwick Park Dependency Scale (NPDS).
Design: Review of existing literature and psychometric analysis in relation to other standardized measures of disability in a large neurorehabilitation cohort.
Setting: A regional post-acute specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation unit in London, UK.
Participants: A total of 569 inpatients with c ...

Objective: To investigate clinical changes among the acute, post-acute and chronic phases in stroke patients’ satisfaction with activities and participation. The SATIS-Stroke questionnaire’s sensitivity to change was investigated with a sample of 45 stroke patients.
Methods: The SATIS-Stroke questionnaire was used to collect data from the 45 patients (mean age 69 years, 64% men) in the acute ...

Objective: The inhibitory role of neuronal networks in motor recovery after stroke remains to be elucidated. We examined the influence of transcallosal inhibition and short intracortical inhibition on motor recovery after stroke. We also investigated the correlation between transcallosal inhibition and mirror activity.
Design: A cross-sectional study.
Subjects: Thirty-eight chronic stroke patie ...

Objective: Although 40 assessment tools are described in the literature, very few of them have been correctly validated. The Standardized Index of Shoulder Function (FI2S) encompasses pain, mobility, strength and function. The aim of this work is to describe the FI2S and to study its construct validity, reliability and responsiveness to change.
Patients: Fifty-nine patients with non-surgical (ro ...

Objective: We report here the case of a 52-year-old Korean woman who was initially diagnosed with non-fluent/global crossed aphasia.
Methods and results: Initial computed tomography of the brain revealed a haematoma of approximately 40 ml in the right basal ganglia area and cavitation around the right lateral ventricle. Three years after onset the aphasia was resolved to a conduction aphasia and ...

Objectives: The cingulum and fornix are important structures for memory function. Using follow-up diffusion tensor tractography in a patient with traumatic brain injury we found degeneration of the cingulum and fornix.
Case report: An 18-year-old male who had had a traffic accident underwent conservative management for diffuse axonal injury. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an encephalomal ...